Popular Hudson Valley Mall, Supermarket Exposed to Measles

Thousands of holiday shoppers may have been exposed to the measles at a popular Hudson Valley mall as well as a supermarket.

Rockland County health officials confirmed that person with measles visited the Best Buy at the Palisades Mall this past Saturday. The same person also visited Jalapa Express in Spring Valley on Saturday and the Compare Foods Supermarket Thanksgiving night.

"Due to Rockland County's small geographic size, exposure to the measles may occur ANYWHERE in Rockland," the Rockland County Department of Health wrote in a press release. "People may shop, dine, and run errands around the county before they realize they are ill, but are contagious."

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. People first develop a fever, then often a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by an appearance of a rash. People are considered infectious four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash.

Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or a runny nose. Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure but may appear as early as 7 days and as late as 21 days after exposure.